The next time your cell phone goes off, it may not be Mom calling – it may be your department store. InventHelp’s Gadget Girl says: Say hello to the invention of mobile coupons.

A mobile coupon is an electronic solicitation delivered to the consumer via a mobile device, like a cell phone or a PDA. Although it remains a niche tactic for the most part, mobile coupons are slowing gaining traction among consumers and marketers.

That’s not to say it’s necessarily gaining in popularity; a recent study by research firm Forrester found that 79 percent of consumers were annoyed by mobile ads. According to Forrester, the best way for mobile marketers to warm up to the consumers is to “cut through the clutter, and focus on value, not interruption.”

InventHelp’s Gadget Girl predicts that the mobile coupon inventions will be the next boom in the e-marketing industry. Firstly, mobile devices are more integrated into a person’s daily activities than any other communications channel. Also, thanks to the Apple iPhone, many cell phones are moving in the direction of HTML compatibility.

And, smart e-marketers are already developing real-time, location-based marketing. This means that customers inside a department store could receive a mobile coupon for that store that specifically relates to their interests.

Yes, gone are the days when we sat and clipped coupons from the Sunday paper! InventHelp’s Gadget Girl will keep you updated on this trend as it rolls out.

Now that Earth Day is behind us, there’s no reason to stop the green efforts you’ve been making the past week! This year’s Earth Day was the biggest ever, with an estimated 1 billion people worldwide participating in various Earth Day events and efforts. The 2008 theme, Call for Climate, focuses on a global warming action theme.

Even if you’re not necessarily an eco-activist (InventHelp’s Gadget Girl makes an effort, but I admit that I’m addicted to long, hot showers), here are a few ways that you can make an everyday effort to reduce global warming:

1. Change Your Light Bulbs (Difficultly Level: Easy) – The invention of compact fluorescent light bulbs makes it easier than ever to give your home the “green” light. Replacing just three frequently used bulbs in your home can save 300 pounds of carbon dioxide and $60 a year.
2. Buy Local and Organic (Difficulty Level: Medium) – By shopping for local products, you eliminate carbon emissions resulting from extensive transports across state and country lines. Plus, you support the local economy. Also, be sure to check out the latest organic clothing inventions in your favorite department store. InventHelp’s Gadget Girl is addicted to soft, organic cotton T-shirts!
3. Go Hybrid (Difficultly Level: Challenging) – One of the most exciting automotive inventions of the last 10 years is the hybrid. If you’re in the market for a new car, try test-driving a hybrid. There are plenty of styles, from compact sedans to SUVs, from a variety of automotive companies. Although hybrids are a little more costly, most drivers find that saving an average of 16,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year (in addition to thousands of dollars in gas) offsets the higher sticker price. Even if you don’t go hybrid, make MPG a factor in your buying decisions.

Just because Earth Day is over doesn’t mean you should give up the effort. Even the smallest changes add up over time. InventHelp and Gadget Girl say “Thanks!” for choosing Earth-friendly inventions!

What to do with your old, obsolete electronic inventions

A gadget’s life is not easy. One day you’re the king of the pile, the best of the best, the newest and hottest product – and in the blink of an eye, you’re replaced by something better.

As InventHelp’s Gadget Girl, I grapple with this guilt every time I get a new gadget. As I discard the camera or cell phone that used to be my #1, I can’t help but think of poor Woody from the movie Toy Story, whose heart was broken when he was quickly pushed aside when a better toy came along.

And while I can’t stop the rapid progression of technology (and believe me, InventHelp’s Gadget Girl wouldn’t even think of it!), I can at least dispose of my used electronics in an environmentally friendly way. Thanks to a pilot program announced by the U.S. Postal Service this week, consumers can mail back small electronics items and ink cartridges for recycling free of charge.

“Free and Green” is what the USPS describes as the goal of the program. Customers use free envelopes found in 1,500 Post Offices to mail back inkjet cartridges, PDAs, Blackberries, digital cameras, iPods and MP3 players without having to pay for postage.

Postage is paid for by Clover Technologies Group, a company that recycles, remanufactures and remarkets inkjet cartridges, laser cartridges and small electronics. If the electronic item or cartridges cannot be refurbished and resold, its component parts are reused to refurbish other items, or the parts are broken down further and the materials are recycled.

So, the next time you need to mail a package, keep an eye out for the free envelopes. InventHelp’s Gadget Girl will definitely be picking some up at the Post Office, because I love the fact that my old gadget-friend could be a part of my NEW gadget-friend!

Did you bet on the wrong horse in the HD DVD vs. Blu-ray race? (InventHelp’s Gadget Girl doesn’t like to brag, but she was hedging on Blu-ray all the way!) If you’re one of the unfortunate ones who bought an HD DVD player thinking that it would ultimately prevail, you may be able to recoup some of that lost investment if you shopped at Best Buy.

Following the lead of another electronics mega-store, Circuit City, Best Buy has agreed to give its customers a $50 gift card for the store if they bought the player before February 23rd from the retailer. The card can then be used to purchase anything in the store. You’re not required to return the player to get the gift card, and not all players will qualify for the rebate.

According to Best Buy, the gift card offer excludes “HD DVD-equipped computers and laptops, and so-called ‘dual-format’ or ‘universal’ high-definition disc player models designed to play both Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD media.” Best Buy estimates that it will give out $20 million worth of gift cards. For more information on how to get your gift card, check out the full Best Buy announcement.

As I’ve openly admitted, InventHelp’s Gadget Girl hasn’t purchased a next generation Blu-ray player just yet. But if you’ve purchased one that you love, let me know – I’m taking recommendations!

InventHelp’s Gadget Girl has bad news if you drive a Jeep – the model you drive may be on Consumer Reports’ recent list of the 11 worst cars and SUVs on the road.

The vehicle with the lowest score Consumer Reports’ annual auto tests is the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. With low marks in everything from ride and handling to fuel economy and reliability, the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited scored a 17 out of a possible 100 points.

A Jeep spokesperson points out that off-road capability is not factored into Consumer Reports’ score, and that this vehicle was specifically engineered to excel in heavy-duty, off-road use. Other Jeep vehicles that made the list are the Liberty Sport and Patriot Limited.

Given the recent upsurge in compact car sales, it’s not surprising that two of them made the list. The Chevrolet Aveo and the Toyota Yaris both received poor marks in handling and acceleration. The Yaris is Toyota’s smallest and least expensive vehicle, and the Aveo5 will be replaced by a newly redesigned model this spring.

In the SUV category, the worst performer is the Hummer H3. It should come as no surprise to learn that the H3 flunked in fuel economy, acceleration and emergency handling. The remaining vehicles on the list are: Dodge Nitro SLT; Toyota FJ Cruiser; Suzuki Forenza; Chevrolet TrailBlazer LT; and Mercury Grand Marquis.

Even if your car is on the list, each vehicle reviewed had positive attributes as well. InventHelp’s Gadget Girl doesn’t want to brag, but my car is not on this year’s list!